Friday, December 9, 2016

It’s
one thing when we hear, as Buddhism so often teaches us, that our ideas
about self and other are really just ideas. It’s another thing to live
as though it’s true. With work, though, we can realize that even those
we find difficult have much to offer, much to teach us, and that our
connections to others are much more than some lovely philosophical
concept. May the teachings here rouse us to open our hearts and minds to
all.

Karen Kissel Wegela introduces a tool to help you skillfully focus on and work with a challenging person in your life.

...

In Buddhism, particularly in the Mahayana teachings, the cultivation of
compassion is pivotal. Compassion refers to our desire to alleviate the
sufferings of all beings. In order to do this, the first step is to
recognize, acknowledge and open to the reality of suffering both in our
own lives and in the lives of others. [...]

Shantideva, the sixth-century Buddhist commentator, gives this example in A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life:
Suppose a person hits you with a stick. It does not make sense to be
angry at the stick for hurting you, since the blows were inflicted by a
person. Neither, he continues, does anger toward the person make sense,
since the person is compelled by anger (or greed or delusion). Ignorance
becomes the villain, overwhelming reason and creating suffering. Is
Shantideva still relevant in this 21st-century world? [...]

In Vietnam during the French Indochina War, the famed Zen teacher made an unlikely but meaningful connection. ...

One
morning I set out from Bao Quoc for my monthly visit back to my root
temple. I felt light and joyful at the thought of seeing my teacher, my
monastic brothers, and the ancient, highly venerated temple.
I had just gone over a hill when I heard a voice call out. Up on the
hill, above the road, I saw a French soldier waving. Thinking he was
making fun of me because I was a monk, I turned away and continued
walking down the road. But suddenly I had the feeling that this was no
laughing matter. Behind me I heard the clomping of a soldier’s boots
running up behind me. Perhaps he wanted to search me; the cloth bag I
was carrying could have looked suspicious to him. I stopped walking and
waited. [...]

Today
- December 8th - is Bodhi Day, the day Siddhartha Gautama attained
enlightenment. The Buddha said, "Health is the greatest gift,
contentment is the most precious treasure, and trust is the highest
benefit. Nirvana is the supreme bliss."